New Hungarian regulation would ban guest workers’ employment in more jobs

The Prime Minister’s Cabinet Office is in the process of drafting a new decree regarding foreign employees and the positions they would be prohibited from holding in Hungary. As per the latest draft, guest workers would be restricted from roles within state institutions and state-owned enterprises.

Hungarian government favours white Christian guest workers

In the explanatory section of the decree, the Cabinet Office asserted, “Working or residing in Hungary for a foreign national is not an inherent right.” They emphasised that all available positions should be prioritised for Hungarian citizens.

Consequently, the Hungarian government is steadfast in its commitment to tightening regulations concerning guest workers and their employment in Hungary. Thus, they will prohibit the hiring of foreign workers in state institutions and state-owned companies. Any intention to employ a foreign national within such entities will necessitate approval from the minister responsible for the respective domain.

In February, the government said they would welcome white Christian guest workers in the country, citing ease of integration due to cultural proximity to Hungarians, as reported by 444.hu. However, these stipulations only apply to third-country nationals, as citizens of EU or EEA member states can work in Hungary without restrictions.

According to hvg.hu,, if the government adopts the new decree, it will not be retroactively applied.

Hungary grapples with structural unemployment

We covered earlier today that, based on the figures of the Hungarian Central Statistical Office, the jobless rate in Hungary rose again in February. However, the actual unemployment rate can be misleading as Hungary faces shortages in certain professions, rendering it difficult to find Hungarian nationals willing to work due to low wages. Consequently, companies resort to hiring guest workers from countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines or Vietnam.

For instance, a subcontractor of the Budapest Transport Company (BKK) sought to employ Filipino drivers, sparking public outrage. This issue was previously discussed in an article available THIS. Meanwhile, Hungarian media frequently covers stories of Hungarian bus drivers seeking employment in Austria, Germany and other Western countries.

As we detailed HERE, the maximum number of guest workers permitted to enter Hungary in 2024 is set at 65,000. These individuals can come from 15 countries, including Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Montenegro, Vietnam, Russia, Brazil, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Venezuela and Colombia.

Read also:

• The shocking reason behind companies choosing guest workers over Hungarian – Read more HERE
• Tens of thousands of guest workers cannot enter Hungary: large investments in trouble

Featured image: depositphotos.com

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